Values for timed limb coordination tests in a sample of healthy older adults.

Background: timed limb coordination tests are reliable measures of motor performance but many lack published reference values.Objective: to determine mean values for timed tests in an older cohort, examining associations with anthropometric characteristics, handedness, gender and age.Design: cross-s...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Age & Ageing Vol. 41; no. 6; pp. 803 - 808
Autores principales: Lanzino, Desiree Joy, Conner, Megan N., Goodman, Kelli A., Kremer, Kathryn H., Petkus, Maegan T., Hollman, John H.
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Oxford University Press / USA Nov2012
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:Background: timed limb coordination tests are reliable measures of motor performance but many lack published reference values.Objective: to determine mean values for timed tests in an older cohort, examining associations with anthropometric characteristics, handedness, gender and age.Design: cross-sectional.Setting: community.Subjects: sixty-nine healthy adults divided into three groups: 60–69, 70–79 and 80+ years.Methods: height, weight and time to complete five repetitions of finger-to-nose, pronation–supination, mass grasp, opposition and heel-on-shin were recorded. Performances were statistically compared with anthropometric characteristics, handedness and across age groups and gender.Results: for all tests, height negatively correlated with speed (r = −0.26 to −0.41). Weight negatively correlated with performance of two tests (r = −0.25 to −0.35). When covariates were controlled, men performed heel-on-shin faster than women. The youngest group completed upper extremity tests faster than the oldest. Adults in their 70 s completed finger-to-nose and pronation–supination faster than persons aged 80+ years.Conclusions: we report mean values for five clinical tests of timed limb coordination that may aid in identifying mild deficits in otherwise healthy older adults.